About 5 miles from the Georgia border, Yulee, Florida, is an unincorporated community in Nassau County, about 24 miles from Downtown Jacksonville and 12 miles from Fernandina Beach. Its population has grown steadily in recent years, and residents here enjoy many of the same amenities expected from a city, including national chain restaurants, local entertainment, outdoor activities and convenient access to major highways like Interstate 95 and US 17. Most houses are single-family homes, and neighborhoods are a mix of suburban and rural on the outskirts of the Jacksonville metropolitan area.
"People usually move there because it is less expensive than living on Amelia Island, which is a major tourist destination. But Yulee has a friendly, hometown feel," says Shawna Hodges, a Yulee resident and Realtor with Era Fernandina Beach Realty. Those living here may choose between planned communities or more private homes on larger lots. "Yulee is also in between several military bases. People stationed at Kings Bay in Georgia will live here because there are no state taxes. The area is about 30 to 45 minutes outside of Jacksonville's Mayport and NAS Jax military bases," Hodges says.
The beautiful Nassau River runs south of Yulee.
Living in Yulee offers residents a suburban rural mix feel and most residents own their homes.
1/2
Homes in Yulee
Many of Yulee's homes were built in the 2000s and are inspired by Craftsman and Colonial Revival styles; common elements include column porticos framing the doorways, pitched roofs and arched windows. On the western side are some of the most recent master-planned developments, The Tributary and Wildlight. Both subdivisions include a senior living community and private amenities for residents. Houses outside of developments are typically spacious, with comparatively larger plots of land. On the high end of Yulee’s market, waterfront properties on the St. Mary’s River can reach prices upwards of $1 million; these homes are usually on multi-acre plots and feature custom architectural details.
"Homes stay on the market an average of 44 days. Although it has slowed down a bit, it is generally a hot market in the area," Hodges says. The median housing price is around $400,000, which is slightly below the national median.
A row of two story single family homes in the newly built Wildlight community in Yulee.
A recently built two story single family home in Yulee.
1/2
Nassau County schools receive top marks from Niche
Children can learn through the Nassau County School District, rated A-minus overall by Niche and designated as an academically high-performing school district by the Florida Commissioner of Education in 2022. At Yulee High, students can take dual-enrollment courses for college credit at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Hodges says that Yulee is the hometown of Derrick Henry, the Baltimore Ravens football player. "He does a lot of community outreach. Like before school starts back, he has a backpack giveaway for students at Walmart." Henry is also known to sponsor a holiday drive for local children.
Wildlight Elementary is considered the top elementary in the county.
Yulee High School is located in Nassau County.
1/2
White Oak Conservation Center and other nearby parks
Yulee is home to the White Oak Conservation Center, a 17,000-acre site covering forests and wetlands dedicated to the preservation of endangered species, wildlife education and ecological research; the center is not open for public tours but does offer career and educational opportunities for Florida locals. Locals can also head to John Muir Ecological Park, where they can walk the quarter-mile trail through the Northern Florida forest.
Locals also take advantage of the athletic courts at Yulee Sports Complex and Gymnasium. During baseball season, the Yulee Little League plays matches on the diamonds. Goffinsville Nassau River Park awaits on the eastern side of the community. The public space includes a trail, a fishing pier and a boat ramp to access the water.
A fisherman coming back to the boat ramp in Yulee after being out fishing in the morning.
The Yulee Sport Complex holds the Yulee Little League Championship.
1/2
Shopping along State Road 200
Most department stores, business providers and dining establishments are on State Road 200. This popular route leads to several grocers and big-box stores, such as Target, Walmart and Winn-Dixie. The Crossings at Wildlight is a new shopping development anchored by Publix Super Market.
Hungry residents choose from a collection of local and chain restaurants. Willie Jewell's Old School Bar-B-Q is a casual regional chain for Southern fare like fried pickles and Brunswick stew. Fusion Ramen opened in 2024 as the city's first ramen restaurant. Don Patron Grill and Cantina sits across from the AMC Classic movie theater. Few establishments are open late, so locals often visit Jacksonville or Amelia Island for nightlife.
The new Publix at Wildlight is a hotspot for the residents of Yulee.
Some of the big-box retailers or SR-200 in Yulee.
1/2
Supporting the arts in Nassau County
Artists support one another through local organizations like Arts & Culture Nassau and Arts Alive Nassau. Arts & Culture Nassau helps get the word out for events like the Authors’ Expo and performances at the Amelia Community Theatre on Amelia Island, just 10 miles from Yulee. In Yulee, the Arts Alive Nassau organization sponsors a chorus program at Yulee Elementary, and residents can get involved by donating to these non-profit organizations. The Wildlight Market, open on the first and third Saturday of each month, is a community farmers’ and arts market where local artists can sell their wares.
There often is live music at the Wildlight Farmers Market in Yulee.
Kids love the to buy cotton candy at the Tributary Farmers Market.
1/2
Getting around Yulee
This is a car-dependent community with limited public transportation. Yulee is less than 10 miles from the beaches of Amelia Island and about 15 miles from the sprawling Jacksonville metro area. During rush hour, commuters can expect traffic near US-17, leading to downtown Jacksonville, and along State Road 200. Locals can visit UF Health Wildlight or Baptist Medical Center on Amelia Island for healthcare. Yulee has several industrial plants and manufacturing companies, such as Rayonier Advanced Materials, which has multiple locations throughout the region. According to local news outlets, the plant caused a strong odor near a section of State Road 200.
Crime, safety and environmental factors in Yulee
The community's CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, which is lower than the national average.
Several areas in Nassau County are low-lying and could be vulnerable to flooding and wildfires; homeowners here may want to purchase flood and fire insurance. Yulee is typically sunny and humid most of the year, with temperatures reaching the low 90s.
I'm an expert real estate agent with SUMMER HOUSE REALTY in FERNANDINA BEACH, FL and the nearby area, providing home-buyers and sellers with professional, responsive and attentive real estate services. Want an agent who'll really listen to what you want in a home? Need an agent who knows how to effectively market your home so it sells? Give me a call! I'm eager to help and would love to talk to you.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
